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Port Vale
League One | Gameweek 41
Apr 10, 2023 at 3pm UK
Vale Park
Oxford United

Port Vale
0 - 0
Oxford Utd


Massey (44'), Smith (45'), Benning (45+4'), Pett (60'), Worrall (74')
Politic (90+2')
FT

McGuane (58'), Joseph (74')

Preview: Port Vale vs. Oxford United - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Monday's League One clash between Port Vale and Oxford United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Port Vale will attempt to end their five-game winless run when they welcome Oxford United to Vale Park for Monday's League One contest.

Relegation-threatened Oxford are also desperate to claim all three points after failing to win any of their last 13 matches.


Match preview

Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke pictured in May 2022© Reuters

Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke will have to pick his players up for Monday's contest after they were heavily beaten by Accrington Stanley on Friday.

The Valiants were swept aside by a 3-0 scoreline, ensuring that they have now conceded at least two goals in each of their last four games.

Having picked up just two points from their previous five matches, Port Vale are languishing in 17th place and are at risk of being dragged into a relegation battle in the closing stages of the campaign.

As it stands, they still boast a healthy seven-point cushion to the bottom four, but they will be looking to mathematically secure their League One status sooner rather than later.

Ahead of Monday's fixture, the hosts can take confidence from the fact that they are unbeaten in their previous four competitive home meetings with Oxford.

The U's, meanwhile, are in real danger of being relegated after picking up just four points from their last 13 matches.

Oxford have at least shown some signs of improvement since Liam Manning was appointed head coach, having played out three consecutive draws under the new manager.

In their most recent outing against promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday, Cameron Brannagan dispatched a 70th-minute penalty to cancel out Barry Bannan's opener, ensuring that the home encounter ended in a 1-1 draw.

With seven matches left to play, the U's are just one point above the drop zone, and Manning will be fully aware that wins rather than draws are needed if Oxford are to retain their place in the third tier.

Wins may be hard to come by for the visitors, but they do have the chance to complete a league double over Port Vale, after cruising to a dominant 4-0 win in the reverse fixture.

Port Vale League One form:

Oxford United League One form:


Team News

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka in action with Oxford United's Marcus McGuane on January 9, 2023© Reuters

The Valiants are still expected to be without the services of Lewis Cass and Ben Garrity due to calf injuries.

After being sent off in stoppage time against, Funso Ojo will miss out through suspension, which could lead to Tom Conlon partnering Tom Pett in central midfield.

They will also be unable to call upon Oxford loanees Jack Stevens and Matty Taylor, who are ineligible to face their parent club.

As for the visitors, Elliott Moore will miss out after he suffered a concussion during Friday's draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Stephan Negru replaced Moore against the Owls to make his Oxford debut, and he could now be presented with his first start for the U's on Monday.

Kyle Joseph is expected to keep his place in the Oxford forward line, and he will be looking to add to the seven league goals that he has scored this season.

Port Vale possible starting lineup:
Stone; Forrester, Smith, Donnelly; Massey, Conlon, Pett, Robinson; Butterworth; Harrison, Wilson

Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Eastwood; Long, Negru, Findlay, Brown; McGuane, Brannagan; Murphy, Browne, Wildschut; Joseph


SM words green background

We say: Port Vale 1-1 Oxford United

Oxford will be desperate to claim their first win since January, but having failed to win on their last four trips to Vale Park, we think that they will have to settle for a point on Monday.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Written by
Ben Sully

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Game History

How you voted: Port Vale vs Oxford Utd

Port Vale
50.0%
Draw
33.3%
Oxford United
16.7%
6
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Walsall19124335191640
2Port Vale2010642619736
3Crewe AlexandraCrewe199732416834
4AFC Wimbledon19103631161533
5Doncaster RoversDoncaster209652823533
6Chesterfield2087535231231
7Grimsby Town2010192730-331
8MK Dons1893630201030
9Gillingham199282016429
10Bradford CityBradford197752419528
11Notts County197752521428
12Salford City197662019127
13Cheltenham TownCheltenham207582728-126
14Bromley195952323024
15BarrowBarrow196581818023
16Newport CountyNewport196582128-723
17Fleetwood TownFleetwood175752322122
18Colchester UnitedColchester1941052322122
19Tranmere RoversTranmere195681426-1221
20Harrogate TownHarrogate2063111730-1321
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22Swindon TownSwindon2037102334-1116
23Morecambe2035121936-1714
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle1935111532-1714


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